Maine Legislation LD 258 Signed Into Law

Posted by: Jan Meisels Allen

Maine Governor has signed into law LD 258 which is now PL 58 of the laws of 2011. This bill has been reported on previously to this forum. This amended the restrictions on access to vital records that was a result of the 2010 legislation enacted PL 601. In summary this bill: clarifies that informational copies of vital records are noncertified copies; shortens the time period for access to vital records; opens to inspection and allows for purchase of noncertified copies of vital records created prior to 1892; requires custodians of vital records to permit inspection of the records by a person who has a direct and legitimate interest and by a researcher engaged in genealogical research who holds a researcher identification card.